"Through the pads of his paws, along his spine, in the sensitive whiskers at his wrists."
"The sharp odors of pine—wood, bark, cones, and needles—slivered through the air like blades."
"He stretched high. There was no sign of his boy."
"Whatever his boy needed—protection, distraction, affection—he would have offered."
"The only movements were bars of sunlight glinting like green glass through the leafy canopy."
"He set off after the toy. Finding it was slightly more difficult than usual."
"If he had, he would have seen the boy wrench away from his father and cross his arms over his face."
"The familiar mingled scents of leather, sweat, and stale bubble gum wrapped around him like a hug."
"And maybe that was a sign—he didn’t think he believed in signs, but after the coyotes last night, he wasn’t sure he didn’t."
"Distrust is no match for kindness administered consistently and unmeasured, especially in creatures new to the world."
"The company of these two young foxes drew him, whether he was welcomed or not."
"But instinct told him that he needed rest and food first."
"I have more than everything I need. I have peace here."
"Because I am exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I should be doing. That is peace."
"The deal is you stay until I say you're ready."
"I liked my leg. It was a good leg—not much to look at, maybe, but it worked fine."
"A leg is a very big price to pay. Every day, every single day, I wish I had it back."
"François Villon, named after one of the most famous thieves in history. The original was a poet as well as a thief, and such a charmer that every time they arrested him, some admirer pardoned him."
"I feed him, but I don’t have to—he stays fat enough on his own. We’ve come to a little agreement about the chicken coop—he leaves the girls alone, and I scramble him up an egg now and then. He’s a companion. That’s the best word."
"My mother loved that. She said it meant that no matter how bad things got, we could always make ourselves new again."
"The quiet and the way the setting sun seemed to wash the cabin in peace, as if everything were right with the world, suddenly felt mocking to Peter."
"What’s the point, anyway? How is this supposed to work out?"
"Philosophy bingo cards. I’m trying to figure out my own life. I don’t have your answers."
"People should tell the truth about what war costs. That’s taken me a long time to figure out."
"I could have run forever. Until I galloped out from the woods and saw ahead of me a wide river."
"He ran hard uphill, behind the walls and back through the shrubby wood. At the river, he dropped the ham and gulped down a meal of the salty meat."
"It takes a healthy adult four weeks to do what you’re trying to do in one. You’re bound to hurt yourself."
"Your muscles to theirs, your muscles to theirs."
"The marionettes don't just swing around in thin air over a couple of hay bales."
"Maybe what I know is that I don’t belong with people. Maybe I am a grenade."
"You carrying that charm around—it’s the same thing. You’re telling that story of your mother’s for her."
"It’s a Buddhist concept. Nonduality. It’s about one-ness, about how things that seem to be separate are really connected to one another. There are no separations."
"We all own a beast called anger. It can serve us: many good things come of anger at bad things; many unjust things are made just."
"You always been like this? Asking other people to figure out your stuff for you? That doesn’t work."
"It isn’t the kind of place where people say dyableman a lot."
"I’m going to get there, and I’m going to find him. Thank you."
"That’s as true a thing as I’ve ever known. Now get on that bus."
"Boy, I’m going to leave the porch door open!"
"I don’t want you to stay. I’ll always leave the porch door open, but you have to go."